Edward "Ed" Owens Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Edward “Ed” Owens, 92, of Central City, Nebraska died Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at his home. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Chapman with Rev. Beth Gregory and Rev. Charles Gregory officiating. Visitation will be Friday, May 6, 2022 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Burial will be in the Central City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Central City Sportsman’s Club (Merrick Foundation), First Baptist Church in Chapman or Donor’s choice. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. In tribute to our loving husband, father, uncle, and friend Edward Louis Owens told his last story on May 3, 2022, surrounded by family at his cherished home in Central City, Nebraska. We will always remember him for that twinkle in his eye when he geared up for another great story. He’d raise his finger and say, “Hey, did I ever tell you about the time…” and launch into another great tale. If the measure of a life well lived is family, friends, adventure and lots of love, Ed lived life to its fullest. Seeking more than life had to offerin his hometown of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Ed set off at the age of 17 to define his own path when he enlisted in the Army’s 24th Infantry Division in 1947. His parents, Edward Lewis and Evelyn Pearl (Hutzel) Owens knew their son well enough to not try to stop him. In the Army, Ed perhaps found more adventure than he had bargained for but translated it into a lifetime of stories. He not only earned two purple hearts during two combat tours in the Korean war, initially with the 7th Infantry division, including at the infamous battle of Chosin Reservoirand then with the 84th Construction Battalion, but also served as a Drill Instructor at Ft. Dix, various roles throughout Europe and in Izmir, Turkey, and served in his final posting at Huntsville, AL’s Redstone Arsenal. Like fishermen, old soldiers like to tell tall tales and in retirement Ed and his beloved wife, Kay Kathleen (Reeves) Owens annually attended Old Soldiers’ reunions where theywould share stories with Ed’s army buddies Eldon (“Boz”) Aherns, Bill Haynes,Ralph Look, Lloyd Olsen, Bob Ruby, Bob Sevy, LeRoy Smies, Don Toft, Bob Walter, and others.Not to be outdone by the U.S. Army, Albert Shovlain, retiredsoldier from the Scottish division ofthe Royal British Army, who served with Ed in Korea, called Ed and Kay just before midnight, Ayr, Scotland time,on New Year’s Eve annually to ring in the new year together and update each other on that year’s stories. Perhaps Ed’s biggest adventure in the Army was meeting Kay on Friday the 13th, January 1961 when he was stationed in El Paso, Texas. After a whirlwind weekend romance, Ed knew that Kay was the gal for him. They were married on June 23, 1961 at Kay’s family church, First Baptist Church, Chapman, NE. Ed and Kay welcomed their son, Edward Ladd in El Paso, Texas in 1962 and Karol Kathleen in Izmir, Turkey in 1964. With their new family in tow, Ed and Kay retired from the army and returned to Central City, Nebraska to start the next chapter in their story. While some might have been daunted to launch a new career at the ripe old age of 38, this was nochallenge for Ed. After deciding that he and his father-in-law might be better family members than work colleagues, Ed worked at the Swift plant in Grand Island for five years. He knew in his heart that it was time to be his ownboss (well technically second in command after Kay), so he left Swift. Ed went on toearn an Associate degree in construction technologyat Hastings Technical College. His education enabled him tostart his own business as a carpenter / handyman andallowed him to make sure his kids knew how to roof and paint a house, build furniture and fences and most importantly, measure twice cut once!This job also allowed him to become ‘chief cook’ and ‘first laundry mate’ at home in a time when most men just didn’t take on these household chores. Ed will be forever remembered for his delicious cooking and world famous blueberry pancake recipe! Life in the country allowed Ed to pursue his many hobbies including:raising chickens, feeding every wild animal in a 10 mile radius, mowing the lawn on his Ford tractor and collecting and shooting guns. Ed’s passion for guns started in childhood with his first pistoland continued throughout his life. He ever saw a gun that he didn’t like but had a passion for old Winchesters. This hobby also allowed him to continue his love of storytelling as he met every Tuesday morning with his buddies at the Central City Sportsman’s Club to shoot skeet and share tales. Perhaps Ed’s greatest passion was the family he created with Kay. He will forever be loved, missed, remembered and have his stories retoldby his son Eddie, wife Carrie Lee (Ericson) Owens and grandchildren Edward Lewis (Lewie), Richard (Richie) Victor and Sophia Lee, his daughter Karol, husband Anthony (Tony) Lee Jorgensen and grand dogs Chloe and Sadie (technically they will bark about him), and nephew and niece Kurtis (Kurt) Frederick and Bridgette Lee Ann Reeves and great niece and nephew Makala Sue and Matthew (Matt) Ladd Reeves. In addition to his immediate family, he will forever be grateful to his extended family and community in Central City that welcomed this soldier from Pennsylvania into their hearts,who shared life adventures and developed new life stories with him. He is survived bybrother-in-law Don (Barbara) Reeves, sister-in-law Virginia Fraser, brother-in-law Ladd (Jan) Reeves, step-granddaughter Cory Jorgensen and her children Jon, Matthew, Bradley, Jeramy, Hannah, and many, lovingnephews, and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, baby sister Lois Jean, brother-in-law T.J. Fraser, nephewsRandolph Kirk Reeves, Paul Jon Fraser, Daniel John Reeves. Ed’s family will be forever thankfulfor thekind and loving care shared with him by the Reverends Beth and CharlesGregory who not only helped him find and develop an everlasting relationship with God, but also gave him so much comfort as he worked to close the chapter on this life and begin his next chapter in the arms of our lord. We will miss and love you always.

Edward "Ed" Owens

March 25, 1930 - May 3, 2022